Moving to Portland from SF (rentals, houses, neighborhoods) - Oregon (OR) - City-Data Forum

danosf · 10-17-2012, 12:57 PM

Hello,
I have lived in SF for 26 years and will retire in about four years. I am thinking of relocating to Portland. I Have a friend living there and another friend moving there next year.
I am attracted to Portland because I have been told it offers a high quality of life, good restaurants, respects the environment and is visually beautiful. Also, as an old gay guy in a LTR, a city that is tolerant and accepting is very important and Portland is all that, I hear.
I have very much enjoyed living in SF and have always lived West of Twin Peaks which tends to be wet and foggy so I don't think the climate would be a problem at all. Also, in retirement my money will go farther there than in SF which is really expensive.
I am arriving in mid-November for four days to drive around the city and get my bearings. I am not a high rise kind of guy ( three dogs ) so I dont think I would like to live in the Pearl district where my friend lives. From what I can see on the Internet it is mostly very urban living. I would prefer a house with a yard for my dogs but don't want to be out in the boonies.
I would appreciate some insight and opinions about specific neighborhoods with detached homes that would be safe for late night dog walks, have lots of trees, not be too far from public transportation ( I will have a car however ) and maybe have some proximity to a few coffeeshops and restaurants.

Thank you for your assistance,

danosf

Nell Plotts · 10-17-2012, 01:39 PM

What is your housing budget?

danosf · 10-18-2012, 04:56 PM

We will keep out place in Sf for the first year or two we live in Portland in the small chance we want to return to SF.
We will rent in Portland during that transitiional time. Our budget is flexible but probably would like to keep rent under 3K/month.

Nell Plotts · 10-18-2012, 08:53 PM

Your housing budget is generous, the problem will be your three dogs. Basically there is huge demand for rental housing and landlords can be picky. There used to be an 'executive housing' specialist in town, see if you can find it.

The close in west side is my stomping grounds so that is what I will talk about.

Almost any residence in the west hills is safe to walk a dog late at night.

SW: There is a coffee shop on SW Vista across from Ainsworth Grade School that would be a perfect spot... if you can find a rental nearby that accommodates 3 dogs.

NW, west of roughly 25th is a single family dwelling area. Forrest Park is huge, a great place to walk dogs. There are coffee shops on Thurman street just west of 23rd and another on 24th. Again, the dogs.

danosf · 10-19-2012, 01:26 PM

Hi Nell,

Thank you for your information.
I am concerned about the dog situation too. Hopefully I can work that out with a large enough security deposit.

I will do some Internet research in the areas you mentioned.

Kind regards,

Dano

Nell Plotts · 10-19-2012, 02:09 PM

I looked on Craigslist just to see what is listed.

The listing that talks about the Pittock Mansion would fit your dog walking needs, it is very close to Forest Park, but is isn't easy walking distance to neighborhood coffee houses.

The Victorian house on NW 23rd Place is spot on for the café society, there is an off leash dog area at Wallace Park on NW 25th and Raleigh. The location is more commercial than residential. The property management firm that listed the house claims to represent other similar houses.

There are a couple houses listed in the Irvington neighborhood that may work for you.

John Cummings · 10-19-2012, 05:20 PM

Hey danosf -

This is my first post, but I wanted to chime in as we live in the bay area as well and just purchase a house to retire sometime in the future for the same reasons.

We purchased in the Southeast between Division and Hawthorne and the area is way cool and about 15 to 20 minute from downtown by car or 30+ by bus. Collectivity the area is know as "the Hawthorne" but there are nighborhoods within the Hawthorne as well. I would also suggest you check this area and the NE out as well.

These are neighborhood places with houses and yards (albeit small) for the dogs and a bunch of parks for extended run time. Totally walkable with lots of great places to eat, music venues, vintage shops, etc.

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Good luck!

thequeen1 · 10-22-2012, 11:31 AM

dano, we moved up here from el cerrito (i worked in dt san fran) in 01 and have had nothing but trouble, but it's prolly just us. rentals are hard to come by in my budget, disabled and on so sec, wasn't disabled when i moved up here, but had a horrible accident in 08. we tried to see if we could move back to sac, but can't do it now (sigh); so my advice to you is don't move up here, but that's just me. since you have a generous rental allowance, you should do just fine, but plan on paying big time for the dogs. good luck. from what i hear sf's rent is off the chain. so plan on keeping your sf budget and you'll get a house. if you could buy right off the bat it prolly wouldn't hurt.